| Thesiger | Wilfred Gilbert | | Lieutenant | THESIGER, THE HONOURABLE WILFRED GILBERT, Lieutenant, was born 25 March 1871, son of the 2nd Baron Chelmsford and Adria Fanny, eldest daughter of Major General Heath, Bombay Army. He was educated at Cheltenham, and was nominated Vice Consul, Algiers, but did not proceed there, and was instead transferred to Taranto, Italy, in 1897. He served in South Africa with the Imperial Yeomanry from 1900 to 1901. He received mention in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "The Honourable Wilfred Gilbert Thesiger, Lieutenant, 15th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 17 December 1901. He retired as Honorary Captain 19 December 1901; was appointed Vice-Consul at Belgrade in 1901; given the local rank of Second Secretary in the Diplomatic Service in 1902, and was in charge of the Legation at Belgrade from 1903 to 1906; was Consul for North and North-East Russia, 1906-7; HBM's Consul for Congo, 1907-8-9; Consul General, Abyssinia, 1909-14, with the local rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. During the European War, 1914-19, Captain the Honourable Wilfred Thesiger was on the General Staff of the War Office. He became Consul-General at New York in 1919. He married, in 1909, Kathleen, daughter of T M C Vigors, of Burgage, County Carlow, and they had four sons.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | 15th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry |
